The Ted Noffs Foundation Inc

The Ted Noffs Foundation is a nonprofit organization located in Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. Since its foundation in 1992, the foundation has grown from one residential treatment centre for adolescents to a broad range of initiatives, from four residential treatment centres for adolescents with drug and alcohol problems (PALM: Programme for Adolescent Life Management), to adolescent life management aftercare, family and adolescent counselling on an 'outclient' basis, schools counselling, indigenous counselling, an outreach/educational project called 'Street University' and a number of Social Enterprise endeavors such as fashion-oriented op-shops and 'Gideon's Shoes,' dealing in design, manufacture and retailing.

Ted Noffs Foundation Headquarters, 206a Alison Road, Randwick NSW 2031

History

The organisation was born out of its predecessor, The Wayside Foundation, which was established by the Rev.Ted Noffs in 1970 and renamed The Ted Noffs Foundation in 1992 to recognise the work of its founder. As early as 1969 Noffs had written, 'To the traditional hazards that adolescents have to face- in terms of adjustment to members of the opposite sex, separation from the family unit, finding a job, seeking a new area of accommodation, finding meaning and purpose in life- there must be added the new one of overcoming the trauma of exposure to drugs.'[1] Since that time the organisation has expanded considerably, establishing a leading role in drug and alcohol services in NSW and the ACT.

Services

The following are the programs run by the Organization.

PALM (Programme for Adolescent Life Management).

This programme now comprises four residential programmes in Sydney, Coffs Harbour and Dubbo in NSW and in Watson, ACT. These programmes are run on the basis of the therapeutic community model, augmented for the treatment of adolescents suffering the effects of drug and/or alcohol misuse and the many socio-psychological determinants and consequences of this problem PALM residences are 'client-centred' insofar as the clinical and therapeutic aspects of the programme are tailored to meet the needs of the individual, which are not homogeneous. A spectrum of therapeutic strategies exists in the residences including individual counselling, group counselling, vocational/educational modules and recreation.

CO-OP (Community Outreach and Outclient Programme).

This project commenced operation in 2005 in the ACT to provide a suite of flexible community-based services to assist young people aged 12 to 18 years of age who are experiencing the effects of problematic drug/alcohol use. This is a non-residential, 'outclient' initiative. Overall, the aims are to provide information on, and refer clients to, available services; to advocate on behalf of clients, provide them with counselling and, wherever appropriate, their families, and to reduce or eliminate substance abuse and related difficulties amongst young people. An outclient project run from its offices in Mt Druitt, NSW, this entity provides a number of schools programmes, individual and family counselling, and takes counselling services and schools programmes to indigenous communities in the surrounding areas.

Outclient counselling services

An 'outclient' and 'outreach' project working from its offices at Mt Druitt, this entity provides a number of schools programmes and individual and family counselling locally and to surrounding areas, including indigenous communities. For the latter an indigenous family and schools counsellor is employed.

The aim of the Outclients Counselling Services is to effect a strategy of early intervention in drug and alcohol abuse problems amongst young people aged between 12-25yrs. Schools counselling provides education and skills to enhance students' ability to adopt a discerning point of view in relation to such activities and, if affected, to reduce or stop their intake altogether. A by-product is a decrease in school dropout rates. Individual and family counselling provides support and advice on a more personal level in the instances when this is desired.

Street University

Situated in Liverpool, NSW, this is a recently begun initiative, having opened in 2008. It represents an engagement of the community in situ. Created in a renovated warehouse, the premises now include a multimedia room, a recording studio, counselling rooms, class/lecture rooms, offices, a multi-purpose sports court, a library and a cafe.

The combination of leisure and educational activities is designed for socially, educationally and economically marginalised young people who are vulnerable to drug/alcohol abuse, crime and other anti-social phenomena.

The range of components that Street University provides includes numeracy and literacy classes, homework help, educational courses and lectures, music and art facilities, sports and social activities and counselling when desired. The project is attended by increasing numbers of young people from many cultural/ethnic backgrounds in Sydney's West.

ADWU (Adolescent Drug Withdrawal Unit)

Operating in Watson, ACT, this is a two-week residential detoxification unit for adolescents. It can function either as a withdrawal unit for young people suffering the effects of prolonged use of highly addictive substances such as opioids, or simply a professionally supervised two-week drug-free break from more intermittent but nonetheless problematic drug/alcohol use.

ASK!

This is a free legal service providing advice to young people between the ages of 14–21 years. The project functions in conjunction with King & Wood Mallesons.

Partnerships

Ted Noffs Foundation partners with Caretakers Cottage, a South Eastern Sydney-based youth homelessness non-governmental organisation. The partnership commenced as a response to the New South Wales Government "Going Home Staying Home" reforms, first initiated under then Minister for Family and Community Services (FaCS), Pru Goward.[2]:14 Ted Noffs and Caretakers Cottage jointly tendered for a multi-purpose youth homelessness funding under the Going Home Staying Home reforms. The partnership allowed for the full implementation of the reform along with the elements of previous tenders. The partnership has enabled Ted Noffs to provide crisis accommodation with the added focus of drug & alcohol and lifestyle issues.[3]

Chronology of the Organisation's Development
  • 1992- Title of organisation changed from Wayside Foundation to The Ted Noffs Foundation Inc., which then tends to be referred to more commonly as 'Ted Noffs' or simply 'Noffs'.
  • 1994- Ted Noffs and NDARC (National Drug and Alcohol Centre) obtain funding from the NSW Health Department to undertake a research project to determine best practicein adolescent drug treatment and to design a new treatment program to be implemented by The Ted Noffs Foundation Inc.

[4]

  • 1994- CEO Wesley Noffs is appointed chairman of the Drug Offensive Council of the NSW Health Department.
  • 1995- PALM (Sydney) opens, the first of the PALM (Program for Adolescent Life Management) residential treatment centres.
  • 1996- Noffs consults with key service providers to establish a non-residential (outclients) program for young people with substance abuse problems, in order to incorporate an evidence-based 'early intervention' component. Funding is negotiated with Morgan Banks for the first three years.
  • 1999- Noffs presents key findings of the non-residential 'outclient' model at the NSW Drug Summit. Recommendations are made to implement the organisation's Schools Program along these parameters.
  • 2000- PALM West (Parramatta) opens.
  • 2000- PALM ACT opened by Governor General Sir William Deane in Watson.
  • 2001- PALM Coffs Harbour opened by the Minister of Juvenile Justice.
  • 2001- Launch of ASK!, a free legal advice service for youth, in partnership with the legal firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques.
  • 2002- ADWU (Adolescent Drug Withdrawal Unit) opened by Chief Minister in ACT.
  • 2002- PALM Dubbo begins operation, opened by Carmel Tebbutt.
  • 2002- Implementation of the Wollongong Schools Program, supported by BHP Billiton.
  • 2002- Implementation of the Western Sydney Schools Program, supported by the Telstra Foundation.
  • 2003- Launch of the Ted Noffs Institute, a specialised institute that delivers training and development to the AOD (alcohol and other drugs) and non-AOD sectors.
  • 2003- A mentoring program for PALM Dubbo residents, providing indigenous youth in Western NSW with positive role models and support to consolidate positive gains made at PALM Dubbo.
  • 2003- Implementation of the Central Coast Schools Program.
  • 2004- Newcastle Schools Program (NSW)is opened at TAFE campus.
  • 2004- Implementation of Continuing Care program for PALM East and West residents.
  • 2017 - Wesley and Mandy Noffs retire from staff roles.
  • 2017 - Wesley and Mandy Noffs nominated for Board membership.

References
  1. The Wayside Chapel, Ted Noffs Pp. 154-155, Collins, 1969
  2. "The Year in Highlight." Annual Report 2014. Ted Noffs Foundations. Accessed 27 May 2015.
  3. Matthews, Laurie. "Opening Address." Archived 2015-05-28 at the Wayback Machine Caretakers Cottage - “Going Home Staying Home” – Launch. Caretakers Cottage. Accessed 27 May 2015.
  4. Spooner, C., Mattick, R. & Howard, J. (1996),The Nature and Treatment of Adolescent Substance AbuseSydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, NDARC Monograph 40.
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